Mother’s Day is the perfect time to update mom’s wardrobe with clothes that pack well, meet all of her fitness needs, and look good.
Moms are always active, but usually their energy goes toward taking care of other people. Whether you have an active beach mom or one who enjoys attending fitness classes or playing a sport, when they’re on vacation, they deserve to take care of themselves. Here are my picks for exercise and wellness gifts that travel well and meet all of mom’s vacation needs.
Slipping into Reformer Pilates workout clothes is like wrapping yourself in silky comfort, and unbelievably, these buttery soft fabrics are made from 100% recycled post-industrial waste. The pants appear tiny upon arrival, then stretch perfectly as if they were made for your body. Sports bras are comfortable enough to be worn all day – nothing cinches or pinches. No tags to irritate sensitive skin and no uncomfortable compression. To top it off, these are stylish workout clothes that feel so good, mom will welcome her workouts.
If you’ve ever dealt with blisters, you know how important socks are. Feetures makes socks that are soft, stretch to your feet, and have grips on the heels to keep socks from sliding down when mom is doing a high intensity workout. Extra padding is built into the toe box, heel, and arch, and socks are marked left or right, so you know the cushioning is targeted. You choose the level of thickness based on your shoes and comfort.
Born Primitive’s Eccentric Short is a bicycle short that can transition to any fitness center workout or class. The soft fabric does a great job of hugging the thighs without riding up during squats or cycling. Side pockets on the hips are perfect for holding a phone or hotel key card. Unlike some shorts that create “muffin thighs,” this one fully covers the thighs without compression and has comfortable stretch around the waist so mom can breathe easy.
If there’s one company that has thought of everything when it comes to bras, it’s SHEFIT. The Ultimate Sports Bra can be pulled on over your head or unzipped in the front, and multiple adjustments with wide, sturdy Velcro straps allow mom to get the perfect fit. The ability to change both strap length and band width is a gamechanger, and the soft straps have no uncomfortable or unsightly buckles. The front zipper looks like a design element – it blends in with the bra and even has top and bottom pockets that tuck the zipper away. This bra offers medium support, has a crossback style, and comes in multiple colors.
I’m recommending two options here to meet various price ranges. At under $50, the NORTIV 8 Air Plush Women’s Lightweight Athletic Sneakers are superb. They feel like much more expensive shoes, provide excellent support, and have features like reflective strips and anti-slip soles. I personally love them, especially for the price. The Cloudflyer 4 by On Cloud is also lightweight and perfect for travel. At around $170, this shoe is indeed like walking on clouds, and the fact that sizes include wide options is a comfort bonus. The segmented rubber sole provides great shock absorption and makes it ideal for balance and good traction. The shoe is breathable, has a comfortable interior lining, and dries quickly.
The Scuba Full Zip Hoodie from Lululemon does it all while being incredibly flattering and stylish – something you can rarely say about a hoodie. Ideal for pre- and post-workout, this ultra-comfortable zip-up is warm and cozy with thumbholes and deep pockets. Plus it’s functional, with interior pockets to hold mom’s phone and get this – a zipper pull that doubles as an emergency hair tie. But this hoodie is also chic, so it can be worn on most outings and even to dinner.
Tumi gets a lot of press, and it’s well earned. The Celina Backpack is especially impressive, with pockets for everything, padded adjustable straps, the trademarked TUMI Tracer that helps reconnect lost bags with owners, and the free monogramming service allowing you to personalize the bag for mom. The durability of this bag means it can go anywhere, and the multiple storage options can accommodate any sport or travel need.
Not all swimsuits are created equal, and when mom is serious about swimming laps, she needs a dependable suit. SwimZip suits are just the ticket. I like the halter top and full coverage bottoms, but whatever mom’s style, she’ll get a suit that blocks 98 percent of UVA and UVB rays, has four-way stretch for ease of movement, is made of a tagless and seamless material that prevents rubbing rashes, has chlorine-resistant fabric, and is quick drying, so that final dip won’t mean wet luggage.
After a week of workouts, wet swimsuits, and smelly activewear, it can be tough to pack to go home. The STNKY washable laundry bag solves that problem by locking in smells and germs. Mom can use it as a laundry bag during vacation, then when it’s time to pack, she can use it to separate dirty clothes from clean clothes in her luggage. When she gets home, she doesn’t even have to touch the dirties – just open the bottom zipper, turn the bag inside out, and voila! The laundry bag becomes a wash bag.